GREAT POWER COMPETITION AND THE RISING US-CHINA RIVALRY: POWER, INTERDEPENDENCE, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF GLOBAL ORDER

Abstract

The escalating rivalry between the United States and China has arisen as the defining feature of contemporary great power competition, reshaping the dynamics of international politics in the 21st century. This paper examines the strategic, economic, and technological dimensions of US-China relations, interrogating whether the current trajectory reflects a transition toward a new bipolar order or a more complex, interdependent form of competition. It explores how both powers deploy military modernization, trade policies, and technological innovation, particularly in areas of artificial intelligence and semiconductor production, to expand influence and secure strategic advantage. The paper analyzes the paradox of “competitive interdependence,” where deep economic ties coexist with escalating geopolitical tensions. The paper is qualitative, utilizing secondary sources of data collection, anchored on power transition theory, relying on content analysis. The paper found that the US–China rivalry cannot be adequately understood through traditional Cold War analogies, as it is characterized by multidimensional competition embedded within globalization rather than ideological isolation. The paper recommends that the US and China should prioritize strategic stability through sustained dialogue.